The Portland daily press., 1887-06-17
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The Proceedings at the Augusta Con-
ference Yesterday.
A Number OF Interesting Questions
Under Consideration.


Under Consideration.
The Committees Appointed = the
Conference Finally AdJourns.
AUGUSTA, June 16-This is the last day
of the Sixty-first Annual Session Of the Con-
gregational Conference Throughout the at
tendance has been large and it has proved
more than usually profitable meeting.
Rev. j. S. Richards of Alfred, led the 6 a.
m. social service, and Rev. w. B. Hague OF
Bridgton, the o'clock devotional service.
When the Conference was called to order
by the moderator, Rev. Mr.. Hallock. the
first business was the reading of the commit
tee on the report of the corresponding secre-
tary by Rev. Ebeneza Bean Of Gray. 1t was
recommended that parties visit churches ad-
jacent to them with vacant pulpits, and that
county missionaries be employed in Oxford,
Aroostook and Washington counties
The subject for the consideration of the
Conference which had been prepared by the
committee of arrangements was: The
work of the church among the young peo-
ple.' l. What are we doing? 2. What can
we do? Rev. William Forsyth Of Bucks
port, addressed the Conference in vigorous
manner on the first division. One of the
cheering signs of progress which he noted,
was the growth of the manifestation of the
regard which the churches had for the youth
and the growing practice of placing young
persons in positions of responsibility in the
church. He would receive the young men
and women into the church even at tender
age.
Rev. f. S. Root of Auburn, emphasized the
necessity of preaching that which would in
terest the young. Stale, dry subjects he
would not employ for discourses.
F.V. Norcross of Union, believed in re-
tanning hold on young people even when
they had left their homes.
Under the head of the second division,
Prof. c. j. II. Ropes, of Bangor Theological
Seminary read paper on "Amusements,"
and it was of such nature that it aroused
many members of the Conference to almost
fever heat. he talked about card playing,
the billiard table, theatre-going, and dane
ing. What ought the church to do in regard
to these? he asked. He would have the
young people indulge in these under certain
wholesome conditions and restrictions. There
was no injurious results, he believed, in at
tending good play or a clean opera. He
would condemn play of the "Black Crook"
character. He could see no harm in game
of billiards on private table, and there
could be no danger in friendly contest at
the card table at home. Neither would he
forbid dancing where the surroundings were
not evil. Round dances were viewed with
disfayor, and card playing where there was
spirit of gambling. 1t was better to retain
the young man or young woman at home to
participate in these amusements than allow
them to be lured into dangerous places by
the same elsewhere.
Deacon w. p. Hubbard of Bangor, was
elected moderator for the ensuing, year Mr..
Hallock eeclining, as under the rules of the
conference the moderator could serye.but one
year. The following report was presented
by the committee on nominations, and after
being recommitted adopted before adjourn
ment
To Visit the Theological Seminary at BANGOR
b. ID. Osgood Fort Fairfield; L. NJ, Cousins, Gum
berland Mills; j. l.. Thomas, Auburn; Fred X.
bor; E. V. Smith, Waterville; A. T. Dunnels.
Bath: A. G. Fitz, South Paris; Chas b. Wathen,
Orono; w. III. Mcbride, Brownyille; z. 8 Wilder,
Madson; K. p. Eastman, Hiram; X. Il. lack,
Belfast; Daniel G:een, Machias; Edmond Q. In
gals, Saco.
ion; C. +. w. Hubbard, Ellsworth; Revs. W; G..
Manu. Monson; Daniel B. Sewall, York; Chas.
G: McCully, Calais.
Visitor TO Hallowell Classical SchoOl-C. +. w.
Publication Of Minutes-Dea. E. f. Duren, Ban
gor; Rev. Charles II. Pope, Harrington; Rev. j.
Treasurer-Dea. j. S. Wheelwright, Bangor.
Auditor-Dea. VIM. s. Denrett. Bangor.
Secretary for Sunday School-Rey. Benjamin z.
Committee on SUNDAY schools-Dea. Geo. Pack
| ard. winthrop; Peter e. Vose, Dennysville; John
| nj. Gould, Portland; Horace N. Bolster, Paris
| Rev. Edgar M. Cousins, Cumberland Mills; Rev.
| Rev. j. d. Emerson, Kennebunkport.
Delegate TO Congregational Union OF England
| and Wales-Rev. Arthur #. Skeele Augusta, with
power to choose a substitute.
Congregational Union Of Nova Scotia, New
Brunswie6-!George W. Christie, Presque Isle;
George w. johnson, Buxton.
| Name Conference of NJ 4. Church at Port
| land-Rev. Francis Southworth, Portland; Rev.
| ii. S. Mcknight, Falmouth.
East Maine Conference Of M. K. Church at
| Rockland-Amory ii. Tyler, Camden.
| Free Baptist at Farning gton-G. w. Jones, New
| Sharon; kew, Alexander Niswell. Norway.
Maine Baptist Conventional. w. jenkins, Gar
diner; Darius A. MoorehOuse, Foxcroft.
| Yearly Meeting Of Friends ID at Newport, r l.
American Missionary Association-Chas. g. Nc
| Gully Calais; Chas. 4. Andrews, Biddeford; T.
/ NJ Dayies, Biddeford.
The next meeting of the General Confer.
enee will be held ON the Tuesday preceding
the third Wednesday of June, 1888. Preach
er, Rev. George Lewis of South Berwick
alternate, Rev. w. B. Cross, Milltown, n. b
The next meeting of the conference will bt
held at the same place as that Of the Maine
Missionary Society. Suggestions were made
to the committee that the next conference
meet at one of the following places: Ban
gor Hammond street church; Waterville
Bridgton, Newcastle, Cumberland Mills o.
Woodfords. No place was decided on, how
ever.
An amendment was passed giving the com
mittee of arrangements power to fix thu
hour Of the meeting of the next Conferenc,
on the forenoon of the first day as they saw
fit.
At this point there was an exceedlngl,
lively discussion on Prof. Ropes address OIL
"Amusements." 1t was objected to in M
unmeasured terms by Revs. G. d. Crane o
Newcastle, and F. " Norcross of Union
Geo. B. Barrows. Esq, of Fryeburg, ant
others. One member asked God to hav
| mercy On Tue paper anu bHdukcu bIlo LOI'
that it had not been heard by the young peo
pie.
1t was left to the discretion of the printin
sommitte whether or not the address shoul
be printed.
An hour and fifteen minutes recess wa
taken at noon, and at Las the Conference re
assembled.
Rev, T. +. Bailey addressed the Confer
ence in an earnest, intelligent manner, o
the subject, SHOW may we provide deepe
spiritual life in our churches?" He advise
that church members first obtain spiritu;
life themselves and then God would wor
through them and the best results would
obtained.
Communion service followed, Reys. II.
Huntington Of Gorham and G. II. Cutler {
Hartford, Conn.,, officiating.
The usual vote of thanks was passed, an
: the convention finally adjourned at 8 o'cloC
D in the afternoon.
Y A Grain Firm Suspended.
0 MILWAUKEE, June 16.-A special to Il
( Evening Wisconsin from Minneapolis, Min
a saws: Griffith Marshall & Co., grain broker
= have suspended owing to close business rel